UPDATE: Is The Burger Guys Closing for Good? YES.

The sign on the door says it'll open after Sunday, but we're not so sure.

Update: Owner Jake Mazzu has confirmed that The Burger Guys is closed. See his statement on the next page.

On the heels of the shuttering of The Burger Guys' downtown location, today comes the rumor that the original location on Westheimer is closing as well, or possibly already closed.

We ventured out to the Westside burger shop and found it dark and locked up during the lunch hour when owner Jake Mazzu and chef Brandon Fisch are typically slinging burgers to hungry Houstonians.

A sign on the door reads "Closed due to technical difficulties. Will be open after Sunday."

Unfortunately, we're pretty sure the spot won't be open Sunday after all.

Photo by Kaitlin Steinberg

The lights are off, and no one's in during what should be a busy lunch hour.

We've been unable to reach Mazzu thus far, but several sources have hinted to us that The Burger Guys might not be long for this world -- if, in fact, it's still open at all.

When the downtown location closed back in September, Mazzu told Culturemap he believed the $10 burger was just too expensive for downtown office workers looking for a quick and cheap lunch. He also thinks the location at 706 Main Street, which has housed four different restaurants in seven years, might be cursed.

We suspect that the high price of burgers coupled with a possible weariness among Houstonians over gourmet burgers topped with foie gras or lengua is what did in The Burger Guys number two. And it's what may have spelled the end for the original as well.

Update: Mazzu emailed us with a statement regarding the closing of The Burger Guys:

Sorry to say, we have served our last burger at The Burger Guys! Due to low turn out, and a rise in number of restaurants, Houston has no room for us anymore! Thank you for the love you showed my team!!! Forever grateful for the three plus years we ran. We always tried hard, and went to work each day ... Chasing a dream comes with a cost, and that has taken it's toll. God bless the news we earned both great and bad- it was well deserved. Wouldn't trade it for the world! Merry Christmas and happy new year to y'all and remember the small guy out there, we are few and falling daily!!!!

We're sorry to see The Burger Guys go. Tell us, what was your favorite burger on the menu?

We Recommend

I gave these guys a couple of tries. I attributed a negative first experience to growing pains after making the trek to the west side location. But the service was inexcusable the second time. A friend and I ordered two burgers, a hot dog, and fries. The fries came to the table solo. Followed by a burger and then the hot dog. My friend's burger was rare and she'd ordered it well done. I commented it would be preferable to get all the food out at the same time when I enquired as to the whereabouts of the second burger (which I had ordered medium rare). They swore I never ordered that burger and that I'd have to pay for it. I thought this was bizarre.. So I gladly paid. They remade my friend's burger well done.. good job finally. My burger came out a few minutes later (no fresh fries in sight) and it was charred to a crisp. I sent it back only to receive the ire of one of the owners.. "I can't fire burgers for you all night" was his retort.. Honestly I never thought they'd make it after that. The burgers weren't all that wonderful to start with. But who needs attitude with their burger? Not me! As humble as their note to this publication sounds.. I think they reaped what they sewed..

If Burger Guys would have paid attention to all the comments (good and bad) people write, I believe they would still be open. Starting with lowering their price and serving real serving ketchup and ranch dressing, instead of their house made sauces that I could not handle, I even mentioned it to the cook. If you are a restaurant owner that just closed one location in September, then start reevaluating your business instead of blaming it on Houston not having room for them. Give me a break, and you think going to Beaumont will help? Beaumont has great burger places that people are used to already. Good luck Burger Guys, just remember to look into your products and see what's wrong before you start blaming Beaumont for not making money there as well.

We loved the Westheimer location. It's a shame. The burgers and fries were the best on that side of a town. Big loss. The problem with that store was the location. You're surrounded so many ethnic restaurants I think it got drowned out.

I live on the complete opposite side of town now, and I miss that place even more than I did before. My last time there was after making it my destination after a long bike ride, and a burger never tasted so good. You'll be missed, gentlemen!

I think he meant with rising food cost, sky rocketing rent rates, the cost of labor going up and the consumer always wanting a deal... it's very hard for the little guy to stay afloat. I respect those guys taking a chance and chasing the dream and wish them the best of luck in where ever life takes them.

The Burger Guys just posted this:
Sorry to say, we have served our last burger at The Burger Guys! Due to low turn out, and a rise in number or restaurants, Houston has no room for us anymore! Thank you for the love you showed my team!!! Forever grateful for the three plus years we ran. We always tried hard, and went to work each day..
Chasing a dream comes with a cost, and that has taken it's toll. God bless the news we earned both great and bad- it was well deserved. Wouldn't trade it for the world! Merry Christmas and happy new year to y'all and remember the small guy out there, we are few and falling daily!!!!

@Brazos The service was awful. They lost me after the second visit. Too bad, they could have done well if they had tweaked the product and cared about the customer. People will come to a location for quality and good service.